September 10th, 2007 by Amanda
It seems so difficult these days to take time out of our busy schedules to research and focus our efforts toward a more sustainable world for everyone. With corporate businesses and the media providing us more convenient ways to accumulate everything we need to live comfortably, and with lower priced goods and uncountable options, many people find it difficult to make every purchase support the good for all involved in making and selling that product. If asked why, many probably feel it’s just easier not to worry about it. Maybe they feel that small purchases, compared to the millions spent by everyone around them, is just not that substantial.
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September 9th, 2007 by Dominic
For any of you out there in (or near) Madison Wisconsin, check us out at the Willy Street Fair next Saturday and Sunday (9/15-9/16).
We’ll be set up in front of ‘Escape Java Joint & Art Gallery‘ at 916 Williamson St. Escape is a fair trade coffee shop and art gallery owned by our friends Dwayne and Greg.
We’ll have lots of pictures of our travels, plenty of stories, lots of products and tons of fun! We look forward to meeting our customers as well as anyone supporting fair trade!
Hope to see you there,
Dominic
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September 7th, 2007 by Amanda
Bai Mai Group is a group of artists living in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. The artisans use natural materials traditionally, such as plant dyes and natural fibers to create natural, yet vibrant and colorful products.
In the batik process, wax is laid on the fabric before it’s dyed with natural plant colors, which prevents the color from touching the fabric. Once the wax is removed, beautiful patterns and designs are created. The clothing is made with extra care and are durable and unique. This community of artists take pride in that no chemicals are used to make their art, which make them not only comfortable looking, but comfortable feeling as well.
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September 7th, 2007 by Dominic
We’ve been waiting anxiously for months…and they’ve finally arrived! Batik peasant type tops (unisex) as well as traditional Thai batik pants.
These products are amazingly comfortable (100% cotton) hand dyed with all natural plant extracts.
Batik refers to a dying technique where melted wax is applied to cloth before being dipped in dye. It is common for people to use a mixture of bees wax and paraffin wax. The bee’s wax will hold to the fabric and the paraffin wax will allow cracking, which is a characteristic of batik. Wherever the wax has seeped through the fabric, the dye will not penetrate. Sometimes several colors are used, with a series of dyeing, drying and waxing steps.
Click here to see the products!
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August 29th, 2007 by Dominic
There’s so many ways to be economically and environmentally friendly. Some things we employ are:
-Kiva - Their tagline is “Loans that change lives”. They work through a large network of organizations to give micro-loans to entrepreneurs that may not have any other way to break the cycle of poverty. What to you or I would be a night out or a weekend away can help change the lives of an entire family.
-Fair Trade - Let more of the money you spend go back to those that produce it. The core of
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August 15th, 2007 by Dominic
My journey to Tiznit was a unique one. The first leg of the trip was a bus out of Marrakesh bound for Agadir, where I had to get on a second bus. I generally take the first bus departing to any given location. This time it was an older, funkier bus that seemed to be on its last voyage.
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August 1st, 2007 by Dominic
I was wandering the streets of Essaouira taking some snapshots when from behind me I heard from behind me, “Pssst! Pssssst!”. I turn to see Mohammad smiling at me waving me over. His shop is about 5′ x 8′ with hardly any room to turn around.There’s many photos of himself adorning the walls of him presenting his instruments to artists I don’t recognize. He excitedly shows me a picture of himself (a much younger ‘himself’) presenting a to none other than Carlos Santana. After showing me how to set up the Guenbri I coaxed him into playing for me.
Video Of Mohammad Playing Guenbri.
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August 1st, 2007 by Amanda
A cooperative of artists operate a hand made paper art shop in Chiang Mai. To make the paper, they use the bark of the sa (mulberry) tree, pulverize it, pound it flat, and stretch it on frames to dry. Once dry, the paper is cut, sometimes died with natural colors, and used to make lamps, books, umbrellas, fans, and other paper products. Thailand is known as “The Land of Smiles” to the tourist industry and travelers alike. To the Thai people, it’s a home that embraces tradition, deep spirituality, and a culture of “jai yen” (to carry a “cool heart”), and to take the good and bad experiences of life all in stride. With Buddhism as the dominant religion, a King and Queen loved by the people, and a start toward robust modernization, Thailand offers a mix of traditional living with natural simpler lifestyles, to a faster paced tourist industry trying to catch a glimpse of this unique and intriguing culture.
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August 1st, 2007 by Amanda
Mrs. Wantanee Meepolkit is an artist that runs a small locally owned shop in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Along with the help of family and friends, she weaves together sugar palm leaves to create hanging fish mobiles. Each fish is then hand painted and hung in homes around southeast Asia, and are known to bring good fortune. Ayutthaya served as Thailand’s capital between the years 1350 and 1767. The ruins that remain are now just the memories of a once thriving city brought to an end by an invasion of the neighboring country, Burma (Myanmar) in a battle for land ownership. Tourists and natives to Thailand visit this unique city to tour the ancient ruins and watch trained elephant performances.
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August 1st, 2007 by Amanda
MaYing Song lives her days on Koh Yao Noi, an island in Southwest Thailand. There she spends her time with her large family of children, grandchildren, and grandchildrens’ children. Women in her family know how to weave native palm leaves together to create baskets, mats, and other handy products. The leaves are collected from the surrounding jungle, soaked in water for 4-5 hours, and then put in the sun to dry for about 4-5 hours. The result is a durable and flexible leaf that can be bent and shaped for making beautiful pieces of art.
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